Trying two new soap recipes

I loaned a soap recipe book from the library a while back and made copies of the few recipes I wanted to try. I didn't make note of the book, but I think it is this one: The Handmade Soap Book.

Today my daughter and I tried two recipes for our next batch of soap. Our Calendula and our Rooibos soaps are still plenty, but when making all your own soap one needs to plan 5 weeks in advance to allow curing times.

Oatbran Soap
400g coconut oil
350g plam oil
250g olive oil
5ml wheatgerm oil
5ml Vit E oil

6 tablespooons oat bran
10ml vanilla essence

158g caustic soda/lye/sodium hydroxide
365g spring water

Measure oils into a large stainless steel pot, heat to 49 deg C.

Measure water and CS into a plastic bowl. (Remember to add the CS to water not other way around). Wait for it to reach 49 deg C.

Add the water/CS to the oils when temperature reached, stir with wooden spoon to blend then use your stick blender to bring to trace. Add oatbran and vanilla essence, stir in well.

Pour into greased mould, cover with towels so that it cools slowly overnight. Tomorrow I will cut it into bars and store for 5 weeks.

Cucumber soap
Very excited about this one!
395g coconut oil
282g shortening
226 olive oil
5ml grape seed oil
15ml essence (I used Ylang Ylang)

1 cup diced fresh cucumber
415g spring water
143g CS

Measure oils and heat to 49 deg C.

Add water to cucumber and use stick blender to make into "soup". Add lye to this. Wait until 49 deg C is reached.

Add water mixture to oils, blend with spoon, then use stick blender to bring to trace. Add your essence, stir and then pour into mould. Cool overnight as described above.

NOTE: this came to trace VERY quickly!

On the weekend I hope to make the last batch of Lavender soap when the buds I cut off my plants today have dried.